Tasmanian Times

The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. No price is too high for the privilege of owning yourself. ~ Friedrich Nietzsche

The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. No price is too high for the privilege of owning yourself. ~ Friedrich Nietzsche

Bertrand’s ‘bogans’ riles locals

Intemperate bogan remarks by Glamorgan-Spring Bay Mayor Bertrand Cadart has landed the flamboyant self-styled LeFrog in hot water … and the business community is hopping mad.

Late last night, the Spring Bay Chamber of Commerce, emailed this correspondent with a short statement declaring that it would on Monday call for Cadart’s resignation.

In The Monthly magazine ( Here ), Mr Cadart is quoted as describing the township of Triabunna in pejorative terms.

“The people here, they are too disparate, from the most bogan of bogans … to the greenest pains in the arse,” he said.

“Take Triabunna. It is an ugly spot. Not because it’s ugly intrinsically, but because it’s populated by people who have no concept of aesthetics.”

The Chamber of Commerce’s Debbie Wisby, issued a statement reflecting the view of the business community at the remarks.

“After three years of heartache in our Community, the Mayor’s statements have come at a time when the residents are excited, engaged and positive about the future.

“The Community are now strong and unified and have taken control of its future. We will no longer tolerate this disrespectful and disgraceful behavior by elected members.”

A more detailed update of this story will be filed later. It is understood that Mayor Cadart is holding firm and refusing to stand down.

UPDATE

Debby Wisby, Orford-Triabunna Chamber of Commerce, President amongst supporters at a public rally against council changes to community health matters last year. (reported in Tas Times, Here)

Mike Kent,with Lib MHA Mark Shelton also at last year’s rally. Now Vice President of the Chamber. Says Mayor Cadart should have known better. Cadart was unsuccessful as a Lib candidate in Lyons.Pics by Paul Tapp.

Tasmanian business entrepreneur Mike Kent has joined the public outcry over intemperate remarks of boganism by Glamorgan Spring Bay Mayor, Bertrand Cadart.

Mr Kent, who move to Orford several years ago, says as vice-president of the Orford-Triabunna Chamber of Commerce, he has a responsibility to censure Mr Cadart’s view of Triabunna and its demography, published recently in The Monthly magazine.

He said Mr Cadart’s intemperate paraphrasing of residents as bogans, was a slap in the face for a community reeling in despair at the loss of its central workforce to the recent closure of the Triabunna woodchip mill.

“It’s out of left field, it is inexcusable and it sets this community back five years in its struggle against its unsubstantiated stigma of being an industrial village,” Mr Kent said..

“I understand that the President of the Chamber, Ms Debby Wisby, has gone into the political implications of Mr Cadart’s statement and will be calling for his resignation as a councillor and Mayor.”

“I do not need to add to the politics of such an inexplicable and insulting statement by the Mayor, presuming of course that he has been accurately quoted in this hitherto unknown newsletter,” Mr Kent said.

“It comes at a time when entrepreneurs and a variety business agents are looking at remarkable, positive concepts to lift Triabunna and the entire region into a new sphere of business activity.”

“What does such a statement say to those people who want to come here and do business?”

“This is an interim statement only. I will have a more detailed reaction to Mr Cadart’s statement a bit later,” Mr Kent said.

“It has taken us all by surprise. We are simply shocked.”

PAUL TAPP COMMENT:

• I also understand as a recent update to the drama building up over this issue, that Monday’s scheduled meeting will include a no-confidence motion in the embattled Mayor. This writer confesses to an ignorance of the required Local Government protocols to bring about such a motion but he believes that a minimum support of five councillors can bring it on. My sources have informed me that at least five councillors will support a motion of no confidence in the once-popular Mayor.

The controversy surrounding Mayor Cadart’s bogan-gaffe is gathering momentum as a petition circulating within the municipality could cross municipal borders and become Statewide.

Initially timed to be tabled at a special no-confidence meeting early next week, my sources say that General Manager, David Metcalf, in full support of the mayor, has refused to set a date for the special hearing of a no-confidence motion in the mayor.

“They have not provided a date. They are both playing difficult, trying to stall,” when asked of the timing for the no-confidence motion hearing.

The petition calling for the mayoral resignation, destined only for the Glamorgan-Spring Bay Municipality electors, may take longer than a few days, as was its initial intention.

Because the mayor spoke in negative terms of the entire State, the petition could go Statewide so that those outside the municipality can have a say.

“Already, a northern developer has made public his criticism of the mayor, because of the implications to projects beyond Glamorgan Spring-Bay municipality,” my source explained.

The petition is seen by one local entrepreneur as adding weight to the campaign to force the mayor to resign.

“But if he chooses to hang on and give excuses to dilute his harmful statements, he will face the people’s anger at the election later this year.”

“It is not a storm in a teacup as the mayor and other commentators have said.”

• Casey, in Comments:So ‘Entrepreneurs’ and ‘developers’ will be turned away by Cadart’s remarks??? Where have they and their moneybags been the past 25 years? Nowhere near Triabunna! Good on you, Bertrand – ride it out, don’t ride out. Casey.

• Ben Quin, in Comments:Whilst it was clearly not Cadart’s intention to spark a debate on Bogans, the topic needs airing in Tasmania. I don’t agree with the definitions of Bogan offered to date. A Bogan is someone who takes refuge in ignorance. This does not necessarily make a Bogan an undesirable neighbour or member of a community. Where Boganism becomes menacing in a community is when it becomes a cult – the adoration of ignorance, or complete acceptance of the philosophy of ignorance by a group within that community. When challenged with the need for change, Bogan Cult members usually fortify their position with tribal behaviours adapted from their chosen holy text. Whilst shooting at road signs and burn-outs after midnight are threatening,these are the least insidious of a Cult’s activities. Refusing education, ignoring information about obvious health risks and acceptance of violence and wilful destruction are Bogan Cult defences at their worst. Much of what has passed for political policy and debate in Tasmania has in fact aided the rise of Bogan Cults around Tasmania, by enabling Bogan Cultists to believe that their way of life is ok. Tasmania must change, starting with Triabunna if necessary. Cadart is ok on that and the Glamorgan Spring Bay lynch mob should put their ropes away.

59 Comments

Rob Halton

April 28, 2019 at 8:33 am

MJF, Unlikely that Le Frog will have any impact on the Fairfax elections, hopefully the Qld electorate will see the importance of voting for the Liberal Nationals, United Australia and One Nation all of which represent the true spirit of Qld in order to keep the calm and the economy rolling along at an acceptable pace.

Retention of Scott Morrison for PM will be essential for stable Federal government. Votes from Qld, WA and inland NSW will be essential for Morrison’s return.

Regardless of the Green dream of a utopia Australia, without coal and mineral exports, cattle and crop production these are essential for the base line of our economy.

A Shorten government will not be tolerated under any circumstances that would essentially bankrupt the nation outright.

Robin, in you manic determination to support Morrison & Co 2019, you have dug deeply into the Tasmanian Times’ archives and commented on an entirely unrelated 2014 and well outdated Tasmanian east coast article.

That means your contribution is way off topic. That means it has been deleted.

Mr Fitch’s off-topic comment on your off-topic comment has consequently also been deleted.

Despite my alleged “manic” determination to push for the continuation of Conservative government, things are now looking different in Lyons since Jessica Whelan had parts of her offensive Facebook case history exposed to the Australian public.

Cardart was right after all boganism is wide spread within some local councils, Mayor Foster now has to consider the future of Whelan as a Brighton Council representative which could lead to a more widespread Facebook analysis of the entire local government going back to when all of this troublesome nonsense started as one can “easily” make a complete twit of oneself and end up deserving to lose public office.

As I dont have a Facebook account and not so aware of its workings, I would presume that there is some way of “snooping into ones past” by blocking deletions before there is panic among our public figures to get rid of there contraversial remarks which could land them in hot water!

Islamaphobia is a growing concern for some, not me personally as I have changed my views somewhat over time, being more concerned with the extreme beliefs and actions of a religion which is outdated for Australian society to completely accept ! I am sure that is understandable!

Not a good look for the State Liberal candidate selection panel, I question the role of Sam McQuestion “excuse the pun”, as there is no hiding from his gross mistake to support Ms Whelan when she obviously has made very serious remarks in her Facebook account.

Her comments are not those of the Liberal party but are more those one would expect of Pauline Hanson and Fraser Anning where Immigration policy, border security and concerns about Islam is a part of their right wing agenda to protect the nation from outrage by foreign religious forces that could change the everyday comings and goings of Australians. In our democracy I maintain that voters need the freedom to choose who and what they wish to elect into our Parliament.

Without delving too far into today’s political correctness re immigration mix which has been very messy under previous governments, at least PM Morrison is going to limit numbers to open up the refugee drift into regional areas and not to continually crowd the big cites, Clive Palmer is concerned about Chinese takeovers of Australian business, sounds reasonable to me as both these guys can expect get my primary vote!

Shorten and the Greens promoting more immigration, not a good policy as Australia must enhance sustainable population policy as a part of its economic and environmental fix to limit growth beyond the nations means.

Lyons voters can place their conservative vote with the Nats and Palmer as they wish! Whelan now running as an Independent with her chequered comments is a very doubtful move indeed, given that her local government role is about to come under scrutiny by Brighton Mayor Tony Foster.

I strongly support the need for younger Australians to be able to put a roof over their head, affordable and available housing in effect before the nation continues to blunder its way with increased immigration levels .as Shorten and his Green mates propose.

MjF can stop worrying about LeFrog falling foul of Section 44 because he has asked the French Embassy in Sydney to have his French citizenship cancelled in order to be eligible to sit if elected and – hey – if not elected he can always ask them to ignore the request.

The French are slow and always reluctant to lose citizens. Not only does LeFrog gather first preferences from the LNP in Fairfax, but Pauline Hanson appears to have fallen under the spell of his self-confessed “chick-magnet” accent and directs first preferences his way also. He failed to be re-elected as Mayor in a tinpot Tassie Council, and he failed to be elected in the Tassie State election standing for the Libs, so if this clown now makes it to Canberra we will know the end is nigh!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Studler, your post above has been corrected for grammar. Please remember to tap the space bar after every full stop, question mark or exclamation mark.

As if there are not enough clowns standing in Fairfax already, what with the Fraser Anning Party, One Nation and United Australia Party all fielding odd candidates there would appear to be sufficient choice for voters dissatisfied with major parties and little need for the Liberal Democrats to waste their dough by offering voters LeFrog. And the Liberals giving him first preferences shows just how far they are out of touch.

With the Whelan Facebook incident escalating as it seems, things for the Liberals in Tasmania may be on the brink for Lyons, Interference by State Opposition leader to detract voters away from the Liberals adds to the fire heating up!

A rather distasteful Federal election could now be based on dirty tactics between rival groups acting more like bikie clubs at war,

A high voting count in Tasmania giving for Shorten the edge still means an economic disaster for the nation that we all will quickly resent!

Unfortunately we are at the mercy of uncontrolled political correctness now being blindsided by spurious Facebook incidents by the likely hood of more individuals case histories yet to be unraveled!

Its almost like gangland wars are starting within the community, fighting off the political mess ahead over Climate Change being the main issue then the entire election campaign will be based on a farce and there will be no winners, we will cop rising injustice unless Morrison is allowed to be elected by the people this time around who is basically able to see his way through the mess that the Australian way of life is now facing with maintaining some democratic dignity to continue to improve our daily lives.

The way these candidates are dropping like flies, Bertrand stands a good chance of getting up. I hope he’s across Section 44 and hasn’t visited any titty bars for a while.

Rob Halton

May 6, 2019 at 9:41 am

Despite the politically incorrect remarks attributed to the former Whelan post it should attract the lingering “bogan” vote within Lyons as one can no longer express their views publicly anymore without raising the tenacles of modern conformist society which must toe the line with the unfettered acceptance of multi racial multiculturism which in fact may has reached its ultimatum!

The PM to his credit is intending to cap immigration numbers,and about time as a way of aiming for sustainable population and contributing some way to overcoming this alleged Climate change thing that is haunting the nation.
Anyone with Green interests should see this as an opportunity to stem unnecessary population growth in our region.! Right or wrong!

In my opinion our girl Jessica will receive many votes from those “bogans” as well as unknown numbers of concerned citizens in the country seat of Lyons where her flavored mistakes would be become to her advantage as a “Right” Independent with Conservative Liberal roots!

Good luck to her!

Frank again

July 6, 2014 at 2:01 am

â€œThe problem with the pulp mill was not necessarily the mill itself but the company behind it,â€ concedes Sean Cadman, a veteran conservationist who as chair of the Forest Stewardship Council worked with Lâ€™Estrange to improve the companyâ€™s environmental credentials.-

As if the FSC system works like that Sean!
Secret deals? What a statement.

Toward the end of the article there was the outlook of how to be a winner in the plantation down hill race: Imagine 6 year or even shorter rotation in our sloping landscape and water catchments… They are in for no good –

Still blind for real alternatives.
Holistic Restoration Management is what is needed.
Nothing less will turn this around.

Mayor Cadart has shown a knack for oratory King Oâ€™Malley would have cocked an ear for. According to a dusty copy of the 1896 â€˜Dictionary – faeries of the British islesâ€™ a â€˜Boganâ€™ spelt Bochann, Bogart, Bogan etc. is a forest dwelling character from Scottish/Irish folklore, first recorded 1682;

â€˜Bogans stand taller than a Leprechaun. Known to inhabit the forest they are much given to roughness, drink & hard works, always travelling in groups. They are capricious and upon the same day they may waylay you, beat upon you with fists. That same afternoon they may leave a half chord firewood at your doorâ€™.

Now we have our terminology straight perhaps we should consider the â€˜classâ€™ implications such descriptors â€˜Boganâ€™ (vic,nsw,tas) & â€˜Bevanâ€™ (qld) engenders in an egalitarian Australia that provides such opportunities to classless immigrants just like Monsieur Mayor. Whatever rankled, ruffled feathers the lifting of this out of context comment by what remains of the fourth estate results in. Paetrician polytryx is a new thing to tassie.

I agree that Studler has a point but it is far worse than he suggests. The Mayor does not mind upsetting EVERYONE. “From the boganest of bogans… to the greenest pains in the arses.I do not give a shit about those people”. He then went on the ABC and explained that critics had missed the … and that the dot dot dot meant: “not just those two groups but everybody in between” Well I mean this explanation says it all.

re 41, if what we are witnessing is any part of any birthing process, I submit both the mother and her offspring must be bloody near dead from exhaustion. This “process” has been ongoing since before I moved here in 98.

Strange that the Bogan bit has so upset the locals.I would have thought that Bertrand talking about “greenest pain in the arses” would not greatly assist his negotiations with Graeme Wood to start a new chapter in the history of Triabunna. Graeme is well known as a sympathizer for environmental causes and a generous donor to the Greens. That Bertrand does “not give a shit about those people” shows typically french arrogance and that he then accuses locals for their lack of “Bon Gout” (refined taste) is simply rubbing salt into already deliberately inflicted wounds. He should listen more and talk less.

What an amusing non-debate this has been. Learning that there are bogans in Tasmania is a bit like revealing there are Catholics in the Vatican. So what?

It has overshadowed an excellent piece of journalism in The Monthly, though. The article helps to define the period of transition Tasmania needs to endure. Gunns totally buggered the forest industry in the state, there can be little doubt about that now; the loss to the industry of the woodchip mill in Triabunna should really have been seen as inevitable. Any return to this industry, if it is to be sustainable, cannot happen on the same terms as were previously experienced. The cargo cult mentality is finally dead and buried, and for years represented an appalling business model… something most experts probably realised long before successive Premiers or the former Lords of Lindsay Street.

Instead, we need alternatives, and Wood’s plans for the former woodchip mill are a step in the right direction. Triabunna could become unique as a tourist draw card, existing as it does in a gorgeous part of the state.

Getting caught up in semantics over what defines a bogan is pretty silly, really. The Island is potentially being reborn as we speak. Can we get a little bit excited over that?

Thanks Ben (31) for putting it so well, especially: “Much of what has passed for political policy and debate in Tasmania has in fact aided the rise of Bogan Cults around Tasmania, by enabling Bogan Cultists to believe that their way of life is ok.”

Boganism (or whatever you call it) is what makes living in Tasmania so demoralizing and makes you watch what you say, and to whom – if you’re not one of “them”.

You have to blame the media as banner carriers!

I hope this continues to resonate offshore, because blokey blokes won’t stand for any sensitive insight on their home ground.

Whilst it was clearly not Cadartâ€™s intention to spark a debate on Bogans, the topic needs airing in Tasmania.

I donâ€™t agree with the definitions of Bogan offered to date.

A Bogan is someone who takes refuge in ignorance.

This does not necessarily make a Bogan an undesirable neighbour or member of a community.

Where Boganism becomes menacing in a community is when it becomes a cult â€“ the adoration of ignorance, or complete acceptance of the philosophy of ignorance by a group within that community.

When challenged with the need for change, Bogan Cult members usually fortify their position with tribal behaviours adapted from their chosen holy text. Whilst shooting at road signs and burn-outs after midnight are threating,these are the least insidious of a Cultâ€™s activities.

Refusing education, ignoring information about obvious health risks and acceptance of violence and wilful destruction are Bogan Cult defences at their worst.

Much of what has passed for political policy and debate in Tasmania has in fact aided the rise of Bogan Cults around Tasmania, by enabling Bogan Cultists to believe that their way of life is ok.

Tasmania must change, starting with Triabunna if necessary. Cadart is ok on that and the Glamorgan Spring Bay lynch mob should put their ropes away.

A former Classics lecturer at Utas (some 50 years ago) put forward a convincing argument to show that Triabunna was the only Roman colony south of the equator.

As such it should be declared a World Heritage Area and its residents, descended as many of them must be, from people of the ilk of Cicero, so much beloved by Leonard Colquhoun, should be revered. Perhaps the honorific of Antiquatus Boganus should be appended to all their names.

The Romans landed on the East Coast with three oxen (hence the name – from tria bunna, the local version of the Latin) and the colonists, unlike the British centuries later, and also unlike the Gauls under Cardartix, lived in harmony with the indigenous people.

What a pity that Tasmanians do not sufficiently know their own history.

Not because he disparaged bogans, but because he told the Monthly “At heart I am an advocate of liberalism a la Rousseau, Voltaire and Montesquieu. Freedom of thought, free markets, individual freedom: enlightened liberalism”.

Bring on the putsch! Bertrand’s brand of liberalism seems almost the antithesis of the no-thought plutocratic Liberalism that the Abetz Gummint and Lab Party stand for.

Yeah, a storm in a teacup, and anyway far worse public comments have been made by a southern Mayor, and nothing happened.
The Liberals will I guess hang their hat and shingle to any minor ruckus, one they might be able to pump some publicity from.
Michael Kent of course is no stranger to milking the media; For who could forget his time as a Commissioner for the TFL. It amazed me how the Mercury always published a story directly related to one of their late night meetings the very next morning, penned alongside Mike’s monika of course.

Margaretta Pos 17. I find the term ‘greenie’ racist. It implies somebody has originated from a different galaxy and it is therefore much worse than Earth-based ‘racism’. If phrases like ‘go back to France’ are ‘racist’ then Australia has lost the plot and in need of foreign intervention. (IMHO)

So Gunns bought Triabunna woodchip mill and eventually went bust. Grahame Wood and Jan Cameron Bought Triabunna Woodchip mill. Whotif share price has now plunged and one of Jan Cameron’s major companies has gone bust. Bertrand mentions Triabunna and might get kicked out of his Mayoral position. I propose a name change to Donttriabunna. The place is clearly inhabited by a breed of Super-Bogans whose powers we don’t yet fully understand.

Bogan, Greenie, Labor are being bandied about as pejorative terms; Liberal can also be added. Abbott’s lying has set the scene for mistrusting Liberals generally. So now Liberal can be seen to be an abusive term like the rest. Nothing is new, but it is interesting that the Mayor who as a politician has done damage to his own standing in the community.

I agree with Lilly White #7. “Greenies” is probably the most abusive term anyone can be called in Tassie at present, but we aren’t getting hysterical about it.
Methinks maybe someone is after LeFrog’s job.

Until today when I checked I was unaware that the French for bogan is at least according to babelfish bogan which I assume means that Messieur Le Mayor is by his own definition a gran bogan.

I wonder has anyone else ever noticed how some Liberals hide their true political affiliation for years? But when they finally climb out of the political closet they are every-bit as nasty, prejudiced, bigoted not to mention deeply unpleasant as the rest of the tribe.

Reality bites – reality hurts…
Or should I ask:”Is it a known fact truth hurts and reality bites?”
Excuse my French question…
Pete@ #1 has it spot on yet again.
But because we were not born on the Island we share the fact that we came here by choice, so some of the locals are quick to say:” If you don’t like it, pack up and go back where you came from”.
Denial is the easy way practiced well and used by some of the locally born vocals.
We can simply listen again to the ABC Local Radio /Tasmornings program of this today.

Those who hope to do well financially from the initiatives at Triabunna don’t want any adverse publicity that may dissuade future tourists. Consequently, although some may agree privately with Mayor Cadart it would go against any acquisitive instinct to be seen to do so out loud and they would also be seen to be patriotic Tasmanians in calling for his departure.
Apart from which, not for the first time, I agree with Pete Godfrey, above.

Eric Abetz, who figured large in the Monthly’s article about Tasmanian woodchip corruption and socio-pathology, has no problem insulting anyone found in possession of a moral compass or functional brain.

Bertrand, who is shown sporting an “I love Tasmania” badge, can hardly turn around and commend the people who have been looting the place.

Tasmania is a population built on convict transportation. More than any other population, we have a license to be ‘bogans’ who will consistently vote to undermine our own economy.
The whole island is ‘institutionalised’ by it’s penal past. Tasmanians always beg for handouts and elect foreign totalitarian masters because thats what the descendents of convicts do.
Why can’t Cadet just shut-up and get a part time job with the Sarawak Logging Mafia like the rest of us? Even the enviros here work for them so why can’t Cadert?

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"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. No price is too high for the privilege of owning yourself." - Friedrich Nietzsche